Paper-file



( o Model.)

A. J. THOMPSON,

PAPER FILE.

Patented July 21, 1896.

All!

UNITED STATES.

PATENT QFFICE.

ASHLEY J. THOMPSONfiOF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,580, dated July 21, 1896.

Application filed March 19, 1 396.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASHLEY J. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Files; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates in general to paper or document files, and more particularly to that class of file-holders in which the box proper, which consists of a rectangular base and a front or head board, extending at right angles to said base, is provided with the usual side rails or braces and movable or adjustable pressure-board or follower. In this regardit is my prime object to provide a simple, durable, compact, inexpensive, and efficient device by means of which the follower-board can be quickly, securely, and automatically retained at any point in its path, however great the pressure on the confined documents may be, and which can be readily released and permit the follower to withdraw and tilt backward to increase the convenience with which the papers may be examined. The parts are so arranged that the pressure of the confined papers acting on the follower is directed to accomplish the binding or clamping of the latter to the rectangular base, and in this regard and in the fact that the parts can be readily assembled, not liable to derangement and positive in their action, lies no minor importance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which-' Figure 1 is a perspective View of an ordinary file-box, showing my invention positioned thereon. Fig. 2 is a central section of the invention, taken in a longitudinal direction; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in a direction at right angles to Fig. 2.

I will now explain in detail the construction and function of each individual part of my Serial No 583,956. (No model.)

invention, reference being had to the above figures by letter.

A represents an ordinary file-box, consisting of the front or head board B, secured at right angles to the rectangular base C by" the guide-strip F. This guide-strip is bent at one extremity d at right angles and screwed to the rear edge of the base C, while the other extremity is secured to the forward end of the base 'C in such a manner as to leave a free open space entirely about the remaining portion of the strip F.

Entirely encircling the guide-strip F and adapted to slide longitudinally thereon is the lower perforated extremity G of the standard H,which latter extends upward and branches into oppositely-extending arms I I, which are pivotally secured at their outer extremities to the follower or compressor board J by means of the reception-sockets K K.

Integral with the lower extremity G of the standard 11 and directly beneath the guidestrip F is the projecting lug or toe L, while directly above the strip F and projecting in the same direction as the toe L is the spur M,

which is rigidly cast or formed on the standard II. This spur M gradually dies away in a diagonal direction from its lower prominent extremity.

It will be manifest by reference to the drawings that as the follower-board J and standard 11 are forced along toward the headboard B until the contained documents N are compressed sufficiently, by releasing the advance force, the return action of the confined documents against the follower-board will be communicated to the upper forked extremity of the standard H, which, acting as a lever with its lower extremity as a fulcrum, forces the toe L upward against the guide-strip F and securely locks the standard and consequently the follower-board in a rigid position and maintains the confined papers in their compressed state. It is further manifest that by directing pressure against the follower-board above its pivotal point with the standard II, and in a direction indicated by the arrow a, the fulcrum of leverage will assume a line through the branching arms I I, and the lower extremity of the follower-board J, acting against the spur M, will force the standard I-I backward in a direction indicated by the arrow Z) and simultaneously unclamp the standard from the guide-strip F. In this unclamped and Withdrawn position it will be seen that the follower-board can be tilted backward into the position sh own in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thereby permit convenient examination of the papers or documents within the box.

As a result of the presence of the toe L it will be seen that the standard H is retained in a vertical position within certain limits, beyond which, either in a forward or backward direction, it is prevented from swinging.

By causing the rear extremity of the strip F to be bent as shown, the play or distance between the follower J and head-board B is greater than were the strips secured to the upper face of the base, and consequently more papers accommodated.

Although I have shown the standard and projecting member of cast or wrought metal, still I am aware that metal wire can be twisted into a similar form and be equally effective.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my invention being thus made known, the advantages of the same in addition to those referred to will, it is thought, be readily understood by those familiar with the art to which it appertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an article of the class described the combination with abox or receptacle, a groove in said box, a guide-strip having its extremities secured to said box and resting in but free from the walls of said groove, a standard perforated at one extremity and entirely encircling said strip and resting in said groove, said standard being free from the side rails of said box, and a follower-board pivotally secured to said standard substantially as described and shown.

.2. In an article of the class described, the combination with a box or receptacle, of a guide-strip having its extremities secured to said box, and a standard formed with a proj ecting toe and a spur, and a perforation in said standard interposed between said toe and said spur, and a follower-board pivotally se' cured to the upper extremity of said standard, said perforation being adapted to receive said guide-strip, for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ASHLEY J. THOMPSON. YVitnesses:

LEE D. CRAIG, L. HAYDEN. 

